Maluch, we are on our way again.
On another expedition. To Asia.
My name is Arkady Pawel Fiedler.
In 2014, I crossed Africa with this Maluch.
From Egypt to South Africa,
I visited 11 countries on the way.
It was a big challenge.
I have crossed the hot Sahara,
struggled with the heat in Egypt and Sudan,
encountered demanding roads in Kenya and Uganda
and corrugated roads in Tanzania and Namibia.
But most memorable,
was meeting this fascinating continent,
and interesting people,
for whom my car was a sensation.
I experienced the amazing nature,
like visiting mountain gorillas in Bwindy Forest
and travelling through the African bush.
During my trip, the Maluch constantly surprised me, in a positive way!
He made it,
and we managed to cover 16,194 km.
Now,
my machine, the green beast,
has over 19,000 km ahead of him.
I plan to go through Europe to get to Turkey,
to enter Asia
reach Baku in Azerbaijan,
cross the Caspian Sea to get to Kazakhstan,
go through Uzbekistan,
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
Then onwards to the east of Kazakhstan, reach the Russian Altai
experience some Mongolian off roading,
and part of Russian Siberia…
and if I make it,
to finish my expedition in the far east of Russia in Vladivostok.
Friends, strangers and families have come to see the car off.
As is traditional now, I depart from my base,
Arkady Fiedler Museum,
my grandfather's home.
The Maluch is sentimental to me.
We have know each other since my childhood. It was my first car.
It allowed me freedom,
and thanks to him, I was able to travel hundreds of kilometres around Poland.
I rediscovered him again in 2009,
during my trip along the Polish borders.
After the necessary planning and preparations, rushed as usual,
I was able to finally sit down inside and everything slowed down.
The world beyond the car's windscreen
became clearer,
and I liked it.
The car also has a few advantages over other cars;
it's not just a mode of transportation,
it's also an ice breaker, between me and other people.
It attracts their attention and draws them in.
Also the car needs to be looked after during the journey.
Careful drive on demanding roads.
On one hand is a huge challenge but on the other, a great adventure.
Maluch is an EL, dating back to 1998, and is one of the last versions produced.
It has a renovated engine,
strengthened joints,
an aluminium oil pan, and a steering gear from Fiat 126 BIS.
The driver's seat is better, much more comfortable and higher.
I definately feel comfortable in it.
Aside from these points, the Maluch is very much like other Baby Fiats cars on Polish roads.
We are now on the side roads, driving towards Bielsko Biała.
It will be our first destination today, and we will stay overnight there.
The most important thing for me is that the Maluch reaches its finish line in one piece.
He is the main hero of this project
and to document his struggles on the road, and the places we will visit,
I have hiered a film crew.
Kamil will be filming,
Albert will be photographing,
Kuba and Bartek
who will replace Kuba half way
will drive the Fiat Freemont.
As I call it. The production Freemont
For both cars, this journey will be a challenge…
for any car would be actually.
The Freemont is much overloaded,
we have a lot of filming equipment, much more than we had in Africa.
It's full of all the guys camping equipment,
tools,
and kitchen equipment.
In my Maluch,
I have two big boxes of all the spare parts I may need including oil.
I hope, I have all I need.
I'm sure the beast will make it.
We will see..the road will be writing the script of our journey.
Today, I'm meant to leave Poland and head to Budapest,
but unfortunately the Maluch is temperamental.
There are strange noises coming from the engine,
so I must stay one more day in Poland to investigate.
In very special garage, near the old FSM factory, is where my Maluch was originally produced in 1998.
After 2 days of nervous waiting and checks, we can continue.
We are off again…problem solved.
The crank shaft was replaced and that was probably causing the strange noises in the engine..I hope!
So far, the noises seem to have stopped.
We are on the move again, Maluch.
Our adventure starts today.
I am really happy!
On the way, again!
We enjoyed our stay in Bielsko Biała,
at friend's house who were great hosts to us, but I'm happy to finally get back on the road.
I hope that from now on, we will reach Vladivostok , without any other major problems.
We are going uphill in this area, crossing the mountains.
I'm closeing to the border.
I'm on the Slovakian side.
Now I'm in Slovakia and going downhill.
My plan is simple;
I want to cross the European stretch quickly on the main roads, so that I will be able to slow down in Turkey.
I'm crossing Slovakia now, taking easy on the car.
I am reaching Hungary after sunset.
Driving the Maluch on motorways is often a struggle for survival.
I've driven 1000 km since leaving Puszczykowo,
Still have another 50 maybe 40 km until the Serbian border.
Maluch is driving like a rocket, he crossed Slovakia and Hungary in 2 days and today, he will reach Serbia
We are in Serbia.
Attention!
100 metres…
50 metres…
and there we go,
Maluch has crossed 100,000 km, well done Green Beast!!
In Serbia, near the Bulgarian border.
I don't like driving the Maluch on the motorways,
I much prefer driving on the side roads.
At the first opportunity, I will leave the main road.
A tunnel has appeared on the road…
and another one.
It's beautiful here, and that's why I prefer leaving the main roads to drive on these roads.
I'm close to the Bulgarian border.
Maluch, ahead of you is the fourth country on your way.
I was in Bulgaria when I was a child,
in the Golden Sands area.
I was 6,
and was there with my mum and sister.
It was a long time ago, I can't imagine how many years have passed.
I still have black and white photos from that holiday.
I'm in Bulgaria now.
I have reached Sofia,
and so far, my journey has taken place mainly on the main roads, from capital to capital.
Budapest earlier,
Sofia now….
The longer stop I plan to be in Istanbul.
Just spent a spontaneous first night in the wilderness.
Still in Bulgaria.
Now I have to get out of here.
Staying for night in the wild camp always involves some off roading.
First to get into the area and then to leave.
But I like sleeping in the wild, and being close to nature.
Maluch is doing well today.
It's overheating slightly, and after getting hot yesterday, the engine began making strange noises again.
I wonder if I will hear it again today, it seems the noise only appears when the car is in neutral.
I will stop at a petrol station to find out.
After it's repairs in Bielsko Biała it stoped.
and having since driven 1000 km, the noise has returned.
From time to time, the car's engine appears to be breaking up and switching it self off.
I have another 10 km to the border..
.I wonder what these border crossings will be like.
Will it be behind the hill?
Now, we are in Turkey, our fifth country on the way.
The car was searched thoroughly at the border crossing.
I had to remove everything from the car
and I got into trouble for carrying too many spare parts.
The customs officers couldn't understand why I would need so many spare parts
The 4 sets of brakes for each wheel, according to them, only one would be necessary.
They didn't understand that with 19,000 km ahead of me, there is a chance the Maluch will break down.
The 4 sets of wheel bearings, according to them, only one would be necessary.
Their main concern was the possibility of me selling these spare parts.
I eventually convinced them that there is no such cars in Turkey,
and therefore there is no chance to sell any parts.
So they kindly allowed us to enter Turkey.
Aside such problems and considerable stress,
crossing the borders is fascinating.
After crossing,
a completely new world appears before me.
I wonder how Turkey will present itself to me.
Turkey was built on the ashes on the Ottoman Empire.
In the past stretched from Asia to Africa, to Europe.
We Poles, know it well.
We fought many battles together in the past.
Today, 3% of Turkey lies in Europe with 97% in Asia.
Despite its internal problems and conflicts,
Turkey continues to push forwards.
Turkey has high aspirations to be a leaders of the Muslim world,.
as well as holding all the cards, in connection with Europe
Driving toIstanbul…
but I'm stopped in my tracks,
so I will probably reach it tomorrow.
Ok, we can continue.
Such an adventures on the road.
So, here I am in Istanbul..
The traffic is huge here.
It's difficult to drive Maluch in between such fast drivers around.
I definitely prefer the side roads
but we have to go through Istanbul to reach Asia.
This traffic is enough to drive anyone insane.
Istanbul is a huge city, with a population of 14 million.
For centuries, it stood in between the East and West.
Today, modernity is mixed with tradition;
glass buildings, road traffic
modern shops
and in the background, a fascinating blue mosque,
which I visit for a moment.
It was the most important mosque in the Ottoman Empire,
built at the start of the 17th century,
on the orders of Ahmed the First, Sultan of the empire.
The mosque was designed to be more marvellous and grander than the Hagia Sofia, which stands on the other side of the park.
It was once a cathedral during the Constantinople and Byzantine period.
After the Turks conquered the city in 1453
it was transformed into a mosque.
I reach the great Bazaar,
which reminds me of a small city with its labyrinth of small pathrways.
It's already closed for today,
which gives me the rare opportunity
to walk along the bazaar's pathways minus the crowds…
of sometimes around 400,000 per day.
It has more than 60 pathways
and 4,000 shops,
not forgetting the many gates and fountains…
it's impossible to see everything here in such a short amount of time.
At the moment, we observe Muslim tradition of Ramadan.
From sunrise to sunset, everyone fasts.
Fortunately, in a small restaurant on one of the side roads,
we are welcomed in for a meal.
Very good. A lamb shish.
On the shores of the Marmara Sea,
near the strait of Bosphorus,
whole families
join together on the grass and benches, celebrating the break of fasting.
Short glance on the strait and
the bridge that will lead me to Asia tomorrow.
Dear Maluch
the whole of Asia in from of us.
I can see Asia now,
I can see Asia now,
over the Bosphorus Strait,
this is the border between Europe and Asia.
The strait that divides Istanbul.
On the other side of the bridge is Asia
We were in Europe,
we were in Africa,
and soon we will be in Asia.
I am really happy!
It's really beautiful, amazing.
We are entering Asia.
We are entering Asia.
Now I'm in the middle of the Strait,
and I can say that
together with my little Fiat,
we have reached the Asian continent.
It's unbelievable, we are in Asia!
I've reached Asia with my little Fiat!
But let's not get ahead of ourselves, we will have over 17,000 km in front of us.
7 pm
Time to finish the day,
maybe another 20 km to go…
on the right side should be a small lake,
and I hope it will be our resting place for the night.
The motorway has really exhausted me today.
Good morning,
another day of the journey.
it's either a Monday or a Tuesday.
I'm driving to Cappadocia
a place in Turkey
where entire cities were built into the volcanic rocks and caves.
But before we get there,
there is still a long way in front of me
and one huge city to pass.
The capital city of Turkey.
There we go, there are the gates to Ankara..what an entrance.
Entering the city on an empty 4 lane road was misleading.
Not long after, I'm stuck in a traffic jam.
I made it through the city.
This road here, leading to Cappadocia,
100 km after Ankara, is amazing.
I love these huge wide open spaces,
with fields and small hills in the distance.
I like roads like this one.
The poor Maluch struggled today.
He feels the heat today.
I can feel him struggling.
How are we going to cross Asia, Maluch?
You struggle on these hills and the strange noise has reappeared in the engine.
I don't know whats causing these noises, maybe the timing chain?
But I changed it before I departed.
After the repairs in Bielsko Biała, the noise stopped for 1000 km .
and now it's beginning again
Fortunately, Maluch manages to bring me to Cappadocia.
It's so amazing here,
and to be able to come here at the end of my day, is fantastic.
It's picture perfect, like looking into a postcard…and imagine, you are suddenly in that place
With your little Fiat.
Lots of volcanic rocks here..
some time ago, a volcano erupted in this area. Most likley, that one in the distance, covered in snow.
So this whole area was covered in volcano rock and later the erosion sculpted all these magnificent shapes.
Then people moved in and found a place to live.
It's beautiful here.. after a whole day's driving to reach it,
its immensely rewarding.
My Maluch on these dusty roads, that's what I like.
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